Fil, when I first played (some years ago) my first character was a mage, but since I didn't quite understand the D&D rules he was a little underpowered. I didn't really realize this until Chapter 6 because the other characters in the party were pretty much carrying him, but I wanted a better character so I started over with a fighter and played ALL the way through again to the bitter end.

What I'm saying is, it actually helped to start over because I knew more and rolled a better character and it went a lot faster since I already knew the lay of the land and whatnot. I did the same exact thing in BG2, stopped my first character in the second to last chapter and started over. What's great about these games is you can play a little differently each time, so it's not like you are doing the exact same things or using the same party members.

Schwab, I think you're right. I'm going to start all over. What I really miss in this game is the ability to carry a lot of stuff in my inventory. There are no magic bags, none of the people in my party can carry any more weight than they did at the start and I'm always having to juggle around inventory to carry things. I'm leaving the game right after I had to carry four bodies out of the sewer and had to keep switching inventory items so I could carry it all. Maybe in the next run through, I'll manage everything better.

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Fil

There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. Oscar Levant

Fil, perhaps you can catch up on points by doing some of those side quests you are avoiding. Every encounter gives you points. To get more points I would go to options and increase the difficulty slider to normal. That way you get more points for everything. If you do run into an "impossible" fight, then lower the slider for that only then raise it again. You can catch up on the points you have missed also by not reloading when you get random attacks, such as when you sleep in the outside.

Thanks Rowan, I didn't know that you could adjust the slider back and forth. I'm back in Beregost again after picking up Khalid and Jaheira again. I don't know if I'll use Branwen this time though. I'm going to try to get the mage a little earlier this time. I'm not crazy about her spells but I love the wands.

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Fil

There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. Oscar Levant

I do think, as Schwab has said; starting over is just to your advantage. Doing all the side quest are to your advantage and actually most are doable at your level as you take them. Which means more xps.If you're over the level, then usually so are the mosters or whatever greets you and the xps are so low..you'll never level up.

Practice does help..look how fast you got to the Village this time

Don't be afraid to venture outside and take a look at what's out there, you could be missing something good!

I knew I would be back. I'm in level 2 below Durlag's Tower and my thief, Imoen, can't disable the traps so I can't get the books for the first door warden. Is there another way to disable traps besides using your thief? I don't have a cleric and the mage and druid don't have a spell to disable traps. I tried running through the traps very fast but got killed every time.

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Fil

There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. Oscar Levant

Thanks Schwab, there doesn't seem to be a trick for disarming those traps, so I think I'll just leave. Can I use the warding stone to leave or will I have to use an old save game before I went there? I found a good weapon for Jaheira on the upper levels and I hate to lose it.

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Fil

There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. Oscar Levant

Try the Gamebanshee site for some great hints and maps. The tough traps are usually outlined. I think there are some puzzles associated with the doors and traps on this level. You may have to walk your party individually around some of the traps but if they are puzzle related your best bet is to find out how to solve them.

I really couldn't find a way to disarm the first series of traps or how to get around them. Drizzt, I couldn't backtrack because there is no exit from the tower except if you complete all the levels. I just went back to a saved game before I left for the tower. I just finished going through the sewers in Baldur's Gate. I like this game but I'm having a hard time handling the six people in my party. They keep walking into each other and in tight places they just jam together in one space.

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Fil

There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. Oscar Levant

Thanks Drizzt, the maps are great. They'll come in handy if I ever decide to play this game again. For now I think I'll give the Tower a miss. I have Baldur's Gate II, but I don't know if I'll have my fill after I finish BGI. I'll have to wait and see.

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Fil

There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line. Oscar Levant